Possible EEG sequelae of very long duration marihuana use: pilot findings from topographic quantitative EEG analyses of subjects with 15 to 24 years of cumulative daily exposure to THC.
In previous work we demonstrated and replicated a significant association between increased absolute and relative power and interhemispheric coherence of EEG alpha activity over the bilateral frontal-central cortex ("alpha hyperfrontality") in daily marihuana users as contrasted with nonusers. In this report we focused our analyses on subjects who reported smoking marihuana on a daily basis for 15 to 24 consecutive years. Compared to nonuser controls and subjects who had used marihuana on a daily basis for shorter periods of time, subjects with excessively long cumulative exposures to THC were found to have significantly elevated absolute power of theta activity over bilateral frontal-central cortex, as well as significantly increased interhemispheric coherence of theta activity across central and posterior regions. Concurrent reaction time studies conducted in our laboratory suggest that very long duration cumulative marihuana exposure might be associated with slowed cognitive processing.
Struve
F A
FA
Psychiatry Department, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Shreveport 71130-3932, USA.
Patrick
G
G
Straumanis
J J
JJ
Fitz-Gerald
M J
MJ
Manno
J
J
D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013826:Theta Rhythm; D013997:Time Factors